CBS.MarketWatch.com

TODAY'S PERSONAL FINANCE STORIES

For years, the home sales industry treated women with as much respect as car salesman did -- that is, little to none. Homebuilders and realtors now are targeting marketing efforts more toward women because it would be foolish not to -- single women are buying homes at almost twice the rate of single men these days. Resident Authority Steve Kerch today looks at the industry's bid to satisfy women buyers and to come to understand what women want. On a similar note, our Gender Gap column looks at how women are at greater risk of layoffs in a recession today than in economic downturns past -- and how they remain out of the workforce longer than men after mass firings. Taxing Times give a rundown on maximizing deductions on your home, and the details involved. A bipartisan Senate bill would provide tax credits to help some of the 43 million American families without health insurance buy coverage. Our investing feature offers guidance on the issue on every anxious stockholder's mind at the moment: "What do I do now?" All this, plus our daily Stockpickers column, Tax Tip and Marshall Loeb's Money Tip, in today's Personal Finance pages.

What, you don't want a pink picket fence?

Chris Pummer, Personal Finance Editor, cpummer@marketwatch.com

Real estate marketing gains a feminine mystique

Chicago: Builders and real estate agents are beginning to respond to the demographic changes that are reshaping the homebuying process. Single women are purchasing houses at twice the rate of single men, according to a recent National Association of Realtors study, and the number of households headed by single females is on the rise.

Women's layoff protection eroding

San Francisco: When it comes to layoffs, gender is playing less of a role than it did before the 1990s expansion. The odds of losing a job in a downturn are starting to converge for men and women, yet women still take longer to find work again, experts say.

Making the most of tax deductions on your home

San Francisco: The biggest single tax deduction for the average family is their home. That makes knowing the ins and outs of the tax write-offs when buying or selling your home critical. Here's a primer for home buyers and sellers so you can take advantage of all the tax breaks.

Bill aims to broaden health coverage

Washington: A Senate bill offered Wednesday and intended to help the 43 million Americans without health insurance would provide tax credits for individuals earning up to $45,000 and families with incomes up to $65,000.

What to do when the sky is falling

Los Angeles: Carnage has been rampant on Wall Street in the past three days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped below 10,000 for the first time in five months. And the Nasdaq has fallen under 2,000 to return to a level not seen since December 1998. Pain on Wall Street translates into pain on Main Street, with about half of all U.S. households owning mutual funds. So what should you do about it?

Other people's money

Atlanta: Mark Garfinkel likes to spread other people's money around. The manager of the STI Classic Small Cap Growth Fund has built a portfolio of 170 to 180 stocks with no one accounting for more than 2 percent of assets. He pays a lot of attention to valuations and also looks for earning and sales momentum and positive Wall Street revisions.

Credit covers some adoption expenses

North Palm Beach, Fla.: Raising kids is expensive. If you're trying to adopt, it can cost you even more. But there is tax help available. Parents can claim a tax credit that covers some adoption expenses.

Intraday Data provided by SIX Financial Information and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by SIX Financial Information. All quotes are in local exchange time. Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only. Intraday data delayed at least 15 minutes or per exchange requirements.